WOLSTAT: Reds left dealing with fallout of Atomic Ant's departure

He’s the best player the team has ever — and likely will ever — put on the field, someone who endeared himself to the fan base with his breathtaking ability and his pivotal role in the hoisting of many trophies.

So when the emotional Italian goes off spreading both truths and half-truths, as he did in an Instagram post following his transfer to Al-Hilal FC in Saudi Arabia, the smart move is to respond sternly, but diplomatically. Which is what TFC is doing.

If you missed it, the 32-year-old striker wrote of wanting his experience in Canada “to end differently” and of being eager to “renew my contract and finish my playing career in a city that feels like home.”

Most damningly, Giovinco said he would have stayed for less money — he led MLS at more than $7 million dollars in earnings last season — and didn’t just take the Saudi offer, which is believed to be about double what TFC was offering, and run.

“They may say I left for a more lucrative deal, but this is not the case,” Giovinco wrote.

“Their offer and lack of transparency is a clear message. It seems management prefers to focus on things other than the pure desire to win. After having grown the brand and elevating the overall reputation of TFC both at home and abroad, it seems I no longer serve a purpose. I would have accepted less to stay in Toronto. Therefore, I reluctantly announce that my tenure as a TFC player has come to an end.”

Whoever wrote the post gets marks for creativity and for sending a message. But it doesn’t tell the whole story and has left the franchise saddened with the way it all ended.

“Obviously, I think it’s disappointing,” new TFC general manager Ali Curtis said in a phone interview with the Toronto Sun on Thursday.

“Any time you’ve had a player that’s meant so much to Major League Soccer as well as to Toronto FC, you hope that there’s good words being spoken. When I read the post, it’s disappointing. I do know that any time a change happens it can be an emotional moment, an emotional time,” he said.

“Sometimes you say things you really don’t mean. But we have to look forward. We’re excited about this team. We think we can win now. It’s important that we also build a roster that can win tomorrow.”

Team president Bill Manning said on media day that TFC will continue to put its money where its mouth is in terms of overall financial commitments to players, staff, facilities and the academy program and Curtis reiterated those thoughts.

“Toronto FC is always going to be among the highest-spending teams in Major League Soccer,” Curtis said.

“We’re always going to have players that we’re spending millions of dollars on. We’re always going to have the maximum amount of designated players and things like that … It’s a key feature of this club, in terms of what they invest, not just on players, but all aspects of the organization.”

TFC reportedly will receive roughly $3 million in transfer fees from Al-Hilal instead of losing Giovinco, who was originally acquired from Juventus without a transfer fee. The organization is eager to quickly retool having lost Giovinco, fellow offensive maestro Victor Vazquez and attacking defender Gregory van der Wiel this off-season.

“We feel really good about our chances this year and … you didn’t see a new player get signed today, but everyone should expect that should happen,” Curtis said.

“Whether that’s in the coming days or in the coming weeks … There’s been some scouting and some recruitment. We’re trying to advance these discussions such that we can finalize some signatures for a new designated player, as well as some other players to fill out the roster that are exciting, attacking and can help us win,” he said.

TFC bet on Giovinco, immediately making him the league’s second-highest-paid player and eventually its highest-paid athlete. Giovinco repaid that risk in spades.

His transfer was one of a few high-profile moves this week for the league.

Atlanta United standout Miguel Almiron was just transferred for $27 million to Newcastle United, but he’s only 24 and was named to the MLS Best XI in both of his seasons and led Atlanta to the MLS Cup.

D.C. United’s proposed $10-million transfer for midfielder Luciano Acosta from Paris Saint-Germain reportedly fell through at the last moment.

Only two of the six-best-paid Reds from last season now remain on the roster. Curtis said the club has offered designated player Jozy Altidore a new deal. Captain Michael Bradley, who is also in the final year of his contract, has told the media in the past he is fine with playing out the season and going from there.

TFC’s Champions League push begins on Feb. 19 in Panama, with the first MLS kickoff coming on March 2.

MORE MOVES COMING

Even though the European transfer window closed at midnight on Jan. 31, that doesn’t mean Toronto FC is stuck with disgruntled right back Gregory van der Wiel.

The Dutchman left camp last week following a reported disagreement with head coach Greg Vanney. Afterward, both sides said they would be seeking out a new home for van der Wiel, who didn’t play up to his pedigree in his lone season with the Reds.

In a phone interview with the Sun on Thursday, TFC general manager Ali Curtis reiterated that the European deadline didn’t preclude a near-term move. The North American window opens on Feb. 13 and runs until early May.

“There are other windows open (or will be soon),” Curtis said.

“(Saudi Arabia), that doesn’t close until Feb. 4. Windows in South America, opportunities within Major League Soccer that we can explore in February,” he said of potential options.

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